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10/07/2009
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
Sport of Kings
New Medicaid billing system inspires doubts among some
Christmas spirit
Guidance counselor: Dismiss complaint based on criticism of same-sex marriage
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Trust eyes orchard purchase
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Bonenfant rises up Cony ranks
YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
YES ON 1 BACKER REBUTS CLAIM
New system for Medicaid payments worries providers
After petition drive, Clinton police force budget will go a third time before voters
A rock musician makes trip home via Black Taxi
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Parks to have facelift
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Sweet does job for Madison
YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
SOUTH CHINA -- There's no big secret explaining the success of the Erskine boys soccer team this season. The Eagles simply stick to their mantra: Hard work pays off.
They knocked off a pretty good Edward Little team 3-1 on Tuesday by beating the Red Eddies to the ball in the first half and packing in their defense in the second. Both teams are 6-2-2 in the Class A division of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference.
The Eagles have embraced their move to Class A this season after a few years in Class B and quickly risen to the level of competition.
"It's a lot better competition," Erskine senior stopper Evert Fowle said. "In Class B the teams that are bad are a lot worse, but in Class A everyone's good."
Fowle scored Erskine's first goal, knocking in a rebound of Jacob Miller's header following a direct kick. The Eagles went up 2-0 with 16 minutes left in the half when Miller rose above a crowd in front of the goal and headed home Ryan Pulver's throw-in.
The teams tied 1-1 when they met earlier in the season in Auburn, but Tuesday afternoon the Red Eddies had trouble getting started.
"We weren't quite ready to play," Edward Little coach Dave Morin said. "(Our) mental focus wasn't there. I thought we gave up three pretty sloppy goals."
The Eagles got caught on their heels a couple of times in the first half.
The first time, goalie Brian Potter (nine saves) bailed them out when he tipped a shot by Brenden Lever from 10 yards away over the top of the crossbar. Lever converted on his second chance, though, when he scored off a cross from sophomore halfback Nate Blais following a run through three defenders by Blais that started in his own end.
The Eagles continued to work and restored their two-goal lead with 1 minute, 20 seconds left in the half. This time, striker Ryan Hall collected his eighth goal of the season, kicking home in a throw-in from Matt Potter.
Hall was the lone forward for the Eagles for most of the game and all of the second half as Erskine coach Phil Hubbard elected to play defense with a two-goal lead.
"We played a very smart defensive game," Hubbard said. "We gave up the counter which I didn't want to see happen, because they had a hard time going up the middle and we gave up the middle for that."
Potter was the story of the second half. The junior keeper has taken over in goal following an knee injury to Zack Busmanis and Tuesday he was tough to beat.
He robbed Lever on a point blank shot with a diving save to his left and stymied Tim Mains on a breakaway by coming way out of his net and diving on the ball as he took a shot.
"He's a great field player, too," Hubbard said of his regular center midfielder. "He's got very good reflexes."
The Eagles face a stiff test Saturday when they host once-beaten Brunswick for their homecoming.
Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638
ghawkins@centralmaine.com
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